walterbyrd writes: "Remember Nikon Corp.'s (TYO:7731) Android-powered smart cameras like the Coolpix S800c? Well it appears that adding Google Inc.'s free operating system isn't going to be quite so free — Microsoft Corp. has successfully shaken down the Japanese camera maker for a licensing fee."

Let the companies innovate to make money, sitting on patents is getting ridiculous. Especially when the patent is awarded for something like (move your finger from left to right across a touch screen in order to effect some action"

The right solution is to award patents only for real innovation (for some definition of innovation) AND to arm the patent office with capable people that can actually understand what they are reviewing (which comes with the added cost of paying these competent people). Neither o